At home with …Amy Neunsinger & sons

Photographer
& sons | Los Angeles, CA

Just like her photos, which capture California’s sun-drenched, laid-back lifestyle, Amy Neunsinger’s home is a perfect reflection of effortless style. With its loft-like layout and mix of flea-market finds and plush Shabby Chic furnishings, it’s no wonder this Laurel Canyon compound pops up constantly on Pinterest (just search “Dream House” and you’ll see what we mean). Despite the mostly white décor and serene vibe, Neunsinger, mom of two boys, is happiest when chaos abounds—and lives by the motto “Everyone is welcome.” Here, she gives us a tour of her swoony home and shares her experience raising two smart, sensitive boys.

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“Unconditional love. You can’t imagine what it is until you have this human being that you put on this planet, whom you are completely responsible for. It made me redefine what love is.”

“Trust your gut. So many books have been written about motherhood and it’s good to gather as much information as you can, but the truth is, mothers have been mothering for thousands of years, and trusting your instincts will most always get you to the right place.”

“The inspiration for our home was ‘California modern meets New York loft.’ The whole renovation was risky. It’s the kind of home where your reaction is that you have never seen anything quite like it—that kind of place could either be amazing or go terribly wrong. I designed the home to incorporate beautiful light all year long, along with indoor/outdoor spaces to capture the true California lifestyle.”

“I designate a space for kids’ toys that is easily accessible but not in view, and create reward systems for cleaning up. I also incorporated lots of beautiful baskets and old trunks into the décor, as well as lots of shelves in their rooms.”

“Being a full time photographer, my schedule is never really balanced, so I truly appreciate the regular mom moments with my kids and family, such as picking them up from school and making them dinner. I also try to block out my schedule so I can go on field trips and volunteer.”

“With my first child, my pregnancy was so uncomfortable that I told my self I deserved to eat that whole bag of cookies that was in front of me. But it was so painful to get back in shape. For my second child, I did not make that mistake. I did yoga and went for hikes as long as I could during pregnancy, and as soon as I could after my baby was born.”

Beauty...

Amy’s dreamy master bathroom

The hardest part about being a mom:

“Watching my kids get hurt or into trouble. As a mom, my instinct is to comfort and protect them. When they get hurt on the soccer field my first instinct is “OK, we are done, let’s go home, you don’t need to play any more soccer today, or ever,” but the truth is, they need to get back into the game if it’s not serious. This is what helps to build resilient human beings.”

Wall detail in Jackson’s room

The Best Part About Motherhood:

A sweet little vignette on the mantel

Favorite Kids' Clothes...

“I read a funny quote that said, ‘I started to write a book on parenthood, and I ended up with a book of cocktail recipes.’ I am not saying that one should turn to the bottle for solace, but it’s important to remember to still have fun and let go as mom.”

The boys’ adorable bathroom complete with double sink

“If I wasn’t a photographer, I’d be a rich, philanthropic housewife, but then I would just want my old life back.”

Game night

“It’s amazing how fulfilling the most simple moments can be, like watching my boys fall asleep in my arms, or seeing the look on their faces when they do something they have never done before.”

Proudest mama moment:

“When I helped my youngest child move from a poor student, unpopular with other kids, to a popular kid with good grades. I did this by really trying to understand his issues and changing how he saw himself at school. We knew this year we had succeeded when at Halloween, all the kids went out of their way to say hello to him. We have not looked back.”

“The gratitude you owe your parents, you pay forward to your children. As a mother, I thought about what a jerk I was as a child sometimes and realized, you can never pay your parents back, you can only put everything you have into being a parent, and invest in future generations.”

“The original home was a small post and beam house that had casement windows and brick walls. I wanted to keep the integrity of the original vision while expanding the floor plan. Another consideration was in working with the topography of the site; building in the Hollywood Hills has its challenges and opportunities.”

Beauty Shortcuts...

“Short hair saves me several hours a week. I also use Moroccan oil to soften my hair, argon oil to moisturize my face, drink lemon water to keep my skin hydrated, use rose water facial spray, and any RMS make up products.”

“There are so many things that I would like to be better at as a mom. Today, #1 is dropping whatever I am doing and listening to them when they need me.”

“My favorite time of day is when they wake up and are really sleepy. That’s when I get my morning hugs. I also love bath time.”